The Waikato Times With which is lncorporated The Waikato Argus. FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 1931. UNEMPLOYMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18359, 19 June 1931, Page 6

The Waikato Times With which is lncorporated The Waikato Argus. FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 1931. UNEMPLOYMENT.

Now that the Government has reinstated the No. 5 Scheme the regulations made by the Unemployment Board should be published in order that the public may see the conditions- laid down. Local bodies arc forbidden to put the relief workers to any jobs which would have been undertaken by them in the current or the following year. They originally required that all works should be approved by the Public Works Department; in practice the demand that relief workers should not be put on to w’orks that tlie Council would have carried out means that they must be employed on works either unnecessary in themselves or which would have been relegated to future years. Such restriction is in itself indefensible as it means that the labour must he employed in something that is not required. There is a general concensus of opinion that men should he placed on the land in order to create something of value; there may he, and probably are, difficulties in the way of carrying Ibis out on a scale sufficient to employ any large portion of men out of work, and this being so it should have been an object with those in authority to see that the work provided was of as much value as possible. The actual object seems to have been to sec that the work was of the least value possible. After making these provisions and restrictions about the work on which the men could bo employed, the Government came down to the stage of asking local bodies to continue the work which they professed themselves unable to provide. Are they prepared to waive the 'Finance Act which imposes a penalty on councillors where the balance sheet shows the liabilities to exceed the assets; or Is this to remain In existence in order to punish councillors who comply with the request' of the Government to meet tho position? It is impossible to provide work on any scale without employing capital, a fact which Socialists should note. The Unemployment Board have called on'local bodies to find the capital necessary for tools, transport, and insurance. They will eventually find themselves compelled to find the capital necessary to employ men on the land. If tho work is to be carried out provision must he made to houso men, tools must be provided, materials for fencing must be paid for, and further incidental expenses will be involved. Is it unfair to imagine that it is these expenses which have led to the nonemployment of men on land-develop-ment? If so, it is a penny-wise, pound-foolish policy. The country has to find money required io keep the unemployed men alive and should have seen that it got the best value obtainable for its money. The error lias been throughout In thinking that the fall In prices was temporary and that an improvement in the position might he expected any day. When j the improvement takes place as no doubt it will, it will be some time | before its effects will spread through j the community and till that time the necessity for relief of unemployment will continue. II should therefore he a first consideration with the (lovi eminent to see that money limy spend should be wisely spoilt, and should j provide an asset for tho country. It, |is admitted that work on the land I would come nearest to this. The I iiSOO which the Unemployment Hoard gave as a subsidy to local manufacturers would have done something lo

provide plant ro<|uired to put men on the land. The money which lb" Public Works Department are spending on

(he Sooth Island Main Trunk extension

would have done much more. The Oovovnment can find money to subsidise an existing shipping service between the Bluff and Melbourne and have not waited io ask the consent of Parliament before promising this. There certainly seems to be a considerable want of judgment in the purposes to which they are willing to devote money,